Ankle rehabilitation treatment corrective shoe

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of rehabilitation medical instruments, in particular to an ankle rehabilitation treatment corrective shoe, which comprises an upper, a sole and an ankle stabilizing structure, and is characterized in that a far infrared functional layer is embedded in an ankle contact area on the inner side of the upper, and the functional layer covers the medial malleolus, lateral malleolus and achilles tendon middle area of a human body. The ankle rehabilitation treatment corrective shoe not only has the supporting and protecting functions of a traditional corrective shoe, but also can provide a deep thermal therapy effect, and the treatment effect of ankle rehabilitation is remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of rehabilitation medical equipment, and in particular to a pair of corrective shoes for foot and ankle rehabilitation treatment. Background Art

[0002] Ankle and foot rehabilitation orthotic shoes are medical aids specifically designed for the rehabilitation of ankle and foot injuries or diseases. Their primary function is to provide foot support, correct abnormal gait, and promote recovery during the rehabilitation process. With the aging population and the increasing number of sports injuries, the demand for ankle and foot rehabilitation is growing, and the research and development of related orthotic shoes has also attracted widespread attention.

[0003] There are many types of foot and ankle rehabilitation orthotic shoes on the market. CN209528007U discloses a low-temperature shaping orthotic shoe, including a low-top shoe and an ankle guard part movably connected to the low-top shoe buckle. The inner upper, outer upper and inner wall of the ankle guard part are all provided with heat-deformed correction plates, which can achieve overall correction of the sole and ankle. CN113558839A proposes a foot and ankle rehabilitation orthotic shoe, including a sole, a shoe back and a correction shoe shaft connected to the top surface of the shoe back. Velcro is used inside the shoe back to bond soft correction pads of different thicknesses, and a sliding component and a restraining strap structure are designed to enable the ankle to be reliably contacted and connected to the corrective shoe. CN105769408A discloses a corrective shoe, a corrective insole and a correction method. The corrective insole includes a bottom layer, a soft cushion layer, a circuit board layer, a sweat-absorbing layer and an insole outer layer. It integrates a foot correction monitoring system and a gait analysis system, which can monitor the user's foot stillness and walking posture.

[0004] Regarding health benefits, CN205813720U discloses a pair of health-care shoes, comprising a sole and an upper. These shoes feature a biomagnetic generator located within or above the sole and an upper containing a base material containing a modified far-infrared functional powder. The modified far-infrared functional powder base interacts with the biomagnetic generator to provide omnidirectional stimulation to the foot, promoting metabolism. CN2240276Y proposes a pair of far-infrared health-care shoes, in which the upper lining and sole padding are woven with threads of far-infrared material. These shoes emit far-infrared rays at wavelengths tailored to the human body, acting on acupuncture points on the foot to produce a series of physical, chemical, and biological effects, providing healthcare benefits.

[0005] However, existing foot and ankle rehabilitation orthotic shoes still have the following technical issues: Existing far-infrared functional materials are often simply mixed or woven in, lacking refined processing and optimized formulations. This results in unstable far-infrared effects and limited deep thermal therapy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop foot and ankle rehabilitation orthotic shoes that can target the specific anatomical structures of the foot and ankle, providing deep thermal therapy and promoting microcirculation, to improve the therapeutic effects of foot and ankle rehabilitation. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In order to solve the technical problem that existing ankle rehabilitation correction shoes lack targeted treatment functions and cannot provide deep heat therapy and microcirculation promotion effects in the ankle area during the rehabilitation process, resulting in poor rehabilitation effects, the present invention provides an ankle rehabilitation treatment correction shoe.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problems is: a foot and ankle rehabilitation treatment corrective shoe, including a shoe upper, a sole and an ankle stabilization structure, wherein the inner ankle contact area of ​​the shoe upper is embedded with a far-infrared functional layer, and the position of the functional layer covers the inner ankle, outer ankle and Achilles tendon area of ​​the human body.

[0008] Furthermore, the far-infrared functional layer is composed of a polymer matrix composite modified far-infrared functional powder.

[0009] Furthermore, the base material of the modified far-infrared functional powder includes 50-70wt% tourmaline, and the rest is inorganic auxiliary powder; the inorganic auxiliary powder is one or more combinations of nano titanium dioxide, nano zinc oxide, nano zirconium dioxide, and wollastonite powder.

[0010] Furthermore, the far infrared functional layer is prepared by mixing the activated modified far infrared functional powder base material with a silane coupling agent, kneading with polymer particles (70-80wt% thermoplastic polyurethane and 20-30wt% ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer), and finally molding.

[0011] Furthermore, the far-infrared functional layer is fixed to the inner side of the shoe upper through a hot melt adhesive bonding process.

[0012] Furthermore, the far infrared functional layer is prepared by the following steps: (a) melting the far infrared functional layer base material and injecting it into a mold, and compression molding it at 120-180° C.; (b) cooling and demoulding it, and then cutting it into sheets that adapt to the anatomical shape of the ankle.

[0013] Furthermore, the far-infrared functional layer base material is prepared by the following method:

[0014] (1) placing a base material of a modified far-infrared functional powder in a vacuum drying oven and treating it at a vacuum degree of -0.08 to -0.1 MPa and 150-180° C. for 40-60 minutes, wherein the base material of the modified far-infrared functional powder is composed of the following components: 50-70 wt % tourmaline (particle size 100-500 nm) and the rest is inorganic auxiliary powder, and the base material is subjected to argon plasma surface activation treatment at a power of 100-150 W for 90-120 seconds; the inorganic auxiliary powder is one or more combinations of nano-titanium dioxide, nano-zinc oxide, nano-zirconium dioxide, and wollastonite powder;

[0015] (2) Mixing the activated modified far-infrared functional powder base material and silane coupling agent (KH-570) in a high-speed mixer at 80-100° C. for 10-15 minutes, with the coupling agent added in an amount of 1.5-3% of the powder weight;

[0016] (3) The modified far-infrared functional powder and polymer particles are put into a banbury at a mass ratio of 1:0.8-1.2, wherein the polymer particles are: 70-80wt% thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU, Shore hardness 85A-95A), 20-30wt% ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA, VA content 25-28%), and are banburyed at 160-180°C for 15-25 minutes, with a rotor speed of 30-50rpm. After discharge, the material is thinned 3-5 times on a double-roll mill to obtain a far-infrared functional layer base material.

[0017] Furthermore, the tourmaline is schorl, with the chemical formula: NaFe3Al(BO)SiO(OH), Fe 2+ / Fe 3+ Molar ratio 1:(0.3-0.5).

[0018] Furthermore, the polymer particles in step (3) contain a dispersant: zinc stearate (ZnSt), the addition amount of which is 0.5-1.5% of the total weight of the powder.

[0019] Furthermore, the kneading process of step (3) adopts segmented mixing: the first stage (0-5 minutes): adding TPU, EVA and 1 / 3 modified ceramic powder, the temperature is 160-165°C; the second stage (5-15 minutes): adding the remaining modified far-infrared functional powder, the temperature is 170-175°C; the third stage (15-25 minutes): adding zinc stearate, the temperature is 175-180°C.

[0020] Furthermore, the sheet base material obtained in step (3) is subjected to hot pressing and shaping treatment: hot pressing is performed in a flat vulcanizing machine at 165-175° C. and a pressure of 10-15 MPa for 5-8 minutes, and then quenched to room temperature with cold water.

[0021] Furthermore, in step (b), a three-layer structure is simultaneously formed by a co-molding process: the bottom layer is a breathable mesh polymer layer; the middle layer is a composite layer containing modified far-infrared functional powder; and the surface layer is a skin-friendly fabric layer.

[0022] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the foot and ankle rehabilitation treatment corrective shoe can release far infrared rays when the patient wears it by embedding a far infrared functional layer in the ankle contact area on the inner side of the shoe upper, penetrating 4-6 cm into the foot and ankle tissue, promoting local blood microcirculation, relieving pain, accelerating the disappearance of inflammation, and improving the foot and ankle rehabilitation treatment effect; the base material combination of modified far infrared functional powder (tourmaline, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide) with a specific ratio can generate far infrared rays with a wavelength of 8-14 μm at human body temperature, which has a good resonance absorption effect with human tissue; through plasma activation and silane coupling agent modification treatment, the compatibility and dispersibility of the base material of the modified far infrared functional powder and the polymer matrix are improved, ensuring that the far infrared functional layer has long-lasting and stable far infrared release performance; the far infrared functional layer prepared by the segmented mixing process has excellent mechanical properties and durability, and can maintain a stable therapeutic effect during long-term use. Compared with the existing technology, the foot and ankle rehabilitation treatment corrective shoe of the present invention not only has the support and protection functions of traditional corrective shoes, but also can provide deep thermal therapy, significantly improving the therapeutic effect of foot and ankle rehabilitation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The technical solutions of the present invention will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. All other embodiments derived by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are also within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] Example 1

[0025] A foot and ankle rehabilitation correction shoe includes an upper, a sole and an ankle stabilization structure. The inner ankle contact area of ​​the upper is embedded with a far-infrared functional layer, which is located over the inner ankle, outer ankle and Achilles tendon of the human body.

[0026] The overall structure of the ankle rehabilitation orthotic shoe in this embodiment consists of three main parts: an upper, a sole, and an ankle stabilization structure. The upper is made of a breathable synthetic leather material that has appropriate flexibility and support and can fit the contours of the foot. The sole is made of a highly elastic EVA material that provides excellent shock absorption and support. The ankle stabilization structure is designed as a reinforcement band around the ankle joint, which can provide appropriate lateral support to prevent excessive inversion or eversion of the ankle joint.

[0027] A far-infrared functional layer is embedded in the medial ankle contact area of ​​the upper, precisely positioned to cover the medial and lateral malleolus, as well as the mid-Achilles tendon region. Designed based on the anatomy of the human foot and ankle, the far-infrared layer exhibits an irregular shape, covering approximately 25-30 square centimeters on the medial malleolus, 20-25 square centimeters on the lateral malleolus, and 15-20 square centimeters on the mid-Achilles tendon. The functional layer is 2-3 mm thick, ensuring sufficient far-infrared radiation without compromising wearer comfort.

[0028] The far-infrared functional layer is composed of a polymer matrix composited with modified far-infrared functional powder. The polymer matrix provides excellent flexibility and durability, while the modified far-infrared functional powder base is the core component of the functional layer, capable of absorbing body heat and reflecting back far-infrared rays of a specific wavelength, promoting local blood circulation, relieving pain, and accelerating tissue repair.

[0029] The far infrared functional layer is prepared by the following steps:

[0030] (a) melting the far-infrared functional layer base material and injecting it into a mold, and then performing compression molding at 150°C;

[0031] (b) After cooling and demoulding, the sheet is cut into sheets that fit the anatomical shape of the ankle.

[0032] In step (a), the pre-prepared far-infrared functional layer base material is placed into a specialized mold whose internal cavity shape matches the anatomy of the ankle. The molding temperature is controlled at 150°C, the pressure is 5 MPa, and the holding time is 10 minutes to ensure that the material fully flows and fills the mold cavity, while also evenly distributing the modified far-infrared functional powder base material within the polymer matrix.

[0033] In step (b), the molded semi-finished product is removed from the mold and allowed to cool naturally to room temperature. Rapid cooling is avoided during the cooling process to prevent stress concentration within the material. After cooling, the semi-finished product is cut using precision cutting equipment into sheets that conform to the anatomical shapes of the medial and lateral malleolus and Achilles tendon regions. The edges are chamfered to ensure a comfortable fit.

[0034] The far infrared functional layer base material is prepared by the following method:

[0035] (1) The base material of the modified far-infrared functional powder is placed in a vacuum drying oven and treated at a vacuum degree of -0.09 MPa and 165° C. for 50 minutes. The base material of the modified far-infrared functional powder consists of the following components:

[0036] 60wt% tourmaline (particle size 300nm)

[0037] 25wt% titanium dioxide (TiO2, anatase type, particle size 100nm)

[0038] 15wt% zinc oxide (ZnO, particle size 200nm)

[0039] Surface activation treatment with argon plasma, power 125W, time 105 seconds;

[0040] In step (1), first, three powders of tourmaline, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide are uniformly mixed in a mass ratio of 60:25:15. The tourmaline has a particle size of 300 nm, is black or dark brown, and has excellent far-infrared emission performance; the titanium dioxide is anatase type, has a particle size of 100 nm, is white, and has good photocatalytic and antibacterial properties; the zinc oxide has a particle size of 200 nm, is white, and has antibacterial and UV blocking properties.

[0041] The evenly mixed powder is placed in a vacuum drying oven for pretreatment, with the vacuum degree controlled at -0.09 MPa, the temperature at 165°C, and the treatment time for 50 minutes. The purpose of this step is to remove moisture and organic matter adsorbed on the surface of the powder and improve the effect of subsequent treatment. After the pretreatment is completed, the dried powder is transferred to a plasma treatment device, high-purity argon gas is introduced, and surface activation treatment is performed at a power of 125W for 105 seconds. Plasma treatment can generate a large number of active groups on the surface of the powder, improving its interfacial bonding with the polymer.

[0042] (2) Mixing the activated modified far-infrared functional powder base material and silane coupling agent (KH-570) in a high-speed mixer at 90° C. for 12 minutes, with the coupling agent added in an amount of 2% of the powder weight;

[0043] In step (2), the modified far-infrared functional powder base that has been subjected to plasma activation treatment is mixed with a silane coupling agent, KH-570 (γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane). The coupling agent is added in an amount of 2% of the total weight of the powder, i.e., for every 1000g of ceramic powder, 20g of KH-570 is added. The mixing process is carried out in a high-speed mixer at a temperature of 90°C, a mixing time of 12 minutes, and a rotation speed of 1200 rpm.

[0044] The silane coupling agent KH-570 forms a chemical bond on the surface of the ceramic powder, bonding with the inorganic powder at one end and compatibility with the organic polymer at the other, acting as a bridge. This significantly increases the interfacial bonding strength between the powder and the polymer, reduces agglomeration, and improves dispersibility. After mixing, the modified powder is vacuum-dried at 60°C for four hours to remove any residual solvent.

[0045] (3) The modified far-infrared functional powder and polymer particles are put into a mixer at a mass ratio of 1:1, and the polymer particles are:

[0046] 75wt% thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU, Shore hardness 90A)

[0047] 25wt% ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA, VA content 26%)

[0048] The mixture was mixed at 170° C. for 20 minutes with a rotor speed of 40 rpm. After discharge, the mixture was passed through a double-roll mill for 4 times to obtain a far-infrared functional layer base material.

[0049] In step (3), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) are first mixed in a mass ratio of 75:25. TPU has a Shore A hardness of 90A and has excellent elasticity, wear resistance, and fatigue resistance. EVA has a vinyl acetate (VA) content of 26%, which has good flexibility and processing properties.

[0050] The polymer mixture and modified far-infrared functional powder were mixed in a 1:1 mass ratio in an internal mixer. The mixing temperature was controlled at 170°C, the rotor speed was 40 rpm, and the mixing time was 20 minutes. During the mixing process, the polymer melted under the influence of high temperature and shear force, and the modified ceramic powder was evenly dispersed in the polymer matrix. After mixing, the mixture was discharged and, while hot, passed through a two-roll mill for thinning. The roller spacing was gradually reduced, and the thinning process was repeated four times to further improve the uniformity and fineness of the material. The final far-infrared functional layer base material was in the form of a sheet, approximately 3-4 mm thick, with a smooth surface and uniform color.

[0051] The tourmaline is schorl, with the chemical formula: NaFe3Al(BO)SiO(OH), Fe 2+ / Fe 3+ The molar ratio is 1:0.4. Iron tourmaline is the mineral with the highest iron content in the tourmaline family and has excellent far-infrared emission properties. 2 + / Fe 3+ The molar ratio is 1:0.4, ensuring optimal far-infrared radiation efficiency. The far-infrared emissivity of tourmaline in the 8-14μm wavelength range is as high as 0.92, which closely matches the far-infrared absorption wavelength of human tissue, effectively promoting local blood circulation, relieving pain, and accelerating tissue repair.

[0052] The polymer particles in step (3) contain a dispersant, zinc stearate (ZnSt), added in an amount of 1% by weight of the total powder. Zinc stearate, as a dispersant, can effectively prevent the base material of the modified far-infrared functional powder from agglomerating within the polymer matrix, thereby improving dispersion uniformity. The polar groups in the zinc stearate molecules interact with the surface of the ceramic powder, while the non-polar segments are compatible with the polymer, thereby forming a steric barrier on the powder surface, preventing the powder particles from contacting and agglomerating with each other.

[0053] The internal mixing process of step (3) adopts segmented mixing:

[0054] Stage 1 (0-5 minutes): Add TPU, EVA and 1 / 3 modified ceramic powder, temperature 162°C;

[0055] The second stage (5-15 minutes): add the remaining modified far-infrared functional powder, temperature 172 ° C;

[0056] The third stage (15-25 minutes): adding zinc stearate, the temperature is 178 ° C.

[0057] In the first stage, TPU and EVA polymer pellets are first added to an internal mixer, along with one-third of the modified ceramic powder, at a controlled temperature of 162°C. The purpose of this stage is to fully melt the polymers to form a continuous phase, creating conditions for the subsequent dispersion of the ceramic powder.

[0058] In the second stage, after the polymer has fully melted, the remaining two-thirds of the modified ceramic powder is added in batches, and the temperature is raised to 172°C. This batch addition avoids agglomeration caused by adding too much powder at once, ensuring that each batch of powder is fully dispersed in the polymer matrix.

[0059] In the third stage, once the ceramic powder is essentially evenly dispersed, zinc stearate dispersant is added and the temperature is raised further to 178°C. The purpose of this stage is to further improve the uniformity of the ceramic powder in the polymer matrix through the dispersant, while also fully utilizing the dispersing effect of zinc stearate at high temperatures.

[0060] The sheet base material obtained in step (3) is subjected to a hot pressing shaping treatment: hot pressing is carried out in a flat vulcanizing machine at 170°C and a pressure of 12MPa for 6 minutes, and then quenched to room temperature with cold water. The purpose of the hot pressing shaping treatment is to further improve the density and uniformity of the material, while giving the material a specific shape. In the flat vulcanizing machine, the sheet base material is placed in a mold and the pressure is maintained at 170°C and 12MPa for 6 minutes to allow the material to fully flow and fill the mold cavity, while eliminating any bubbles and defects that may exist inside. After the hot pressing is completed, the mold is immediately transferred to cold water and quenched to room temperature. This rapid cooling can freeze the internal structure of the material and prevent the increase in brittleness caused by excessive crystallinity.

[0061] In step (b), a three-layer structure is simultaneously formed using a co-molding process: a bottom layer of a breathable mesh polymer; a middle layer of a composite layer containing modified far-infrared functional powder; and a top layer of a skin-friendly fabric layer. Co-molding is a highly efficient, one-step multi-layer molding technology that can simultaneously form multiple layers in a single molding process, ensuring a secure bond between the layers.

[0062] The bottom layer is a breathable mesh polymer layer made of polyester elastomer (TPEE) material, with a thickness of 0.8mm and a honeycomb microporous structure with a pore size of 0.1-0.3mm and a porosity of 40-50%. The main function of this layer is to provide good breathability and moisture removal, preventing discomfort caused by excessive sweating during use.

[0063] The middle layer is a composite layer containing modified far-infrared functional powder, namely the far-infrared functional layer base material prepared above, with a thickness of 2mm. This layer is the functional core layer, containing a large amount of modified far-infrared functional powder base material, which can absorb human body heat and reflect back far-infrared rays of a specific wavelength, promoting local blood circulation.

[0064] The top layer is a skin-friendly fabric layer made of microfiber fabric with a thickness of 0.5mm and a fiber diameter of less than 10μm, which is extremely soft and comfortable. This layer directly contacts the skin and needs to have good skin-friendliness and moisture-wicking properties to prevent friction and discomfort during use.

[0065] The three-layer structure is formed in one step through a co-molding process, maintaining a pressure of 10 MPa at 170°C for 8 minutes to fully fuse the layers together and form a single unit. The resulting three-layer structure has a total thickness of 3.3mm, with smooth edges and a strong bond between layers without delamination.

[0066] The far-infrared functional layer is fixed to the inner side of the shoe upper through a hot melt adhesive bonding process, with a bonding temperature of 90°C and a pressure of 0.3MPa. The hot melt adhesive uses thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) hot melt adhesive with a melting point of 85-95°C and a thickness of 0.2mm. During the bonding process, the hot melt adhesive sheet is first placed at a predetermined position on the inner side of the shoe upper, and then the far-infrared functional layer is placed on the hot melt adhesive. A special hot pressing equipment is used to maintain the pressure at 90°C and 0.3MPa for 30 seconds to allow the hot melt adhesive to fully melt and penetrate into the surface of the shoe upper and the functional layer, forming a strong bond. After bonding is completed, it is naturally cooled to room temperature to ensure that the bonding strength meets the requirements.

[0067] Example 2

[0068] A foot and ankle rehabilitation correction shoe includes an upper, a sole and an ankle stabilization structure. The inner ankle contact area of ​​the upper is embedded with a far-infrared functional layer, which is located over the inner ankle, outer ankle and Achilles tendon of the human body.

[0069] The overall structure of the ankle rehabilitation orthotic shoe in this embodiment is similar to that in the first embodiment, including the upper, sole, and ankle stabilization structure. The difference is that the far-infrared functional layer in this embodiment is composed of a polymer matrix composite mineral powder instead of ceramic powder.

[0070] The far infrared functional layer is prepared by the following steps:

[0071] (a) melting the far-infrared functional layer base material and injecting it into a mold, and then performing compression molding at 130°C;

[0072] (b) After cooling and demoulding, the sheet is cut into sheets that fit the anatomical shape of the ankle.

[0073] In step (a), the pre-prepared far-infrared functional layer base material was placed in a dedicated mold. The molding temperature was controlled at 130°C, which was lower than that in Example 1. This is because the mineral powder used in this example has better compatibility with the polymer, achieving good fluidity and dispersibility without requiring excessively high temperatures. The pressure was 4 MPa, and the holding time was 8 minutes.

[0074] In step (b), the semi-finished product after compression molding is taken out from the mold, cooled naturally to room temperature, and then cut into sheets that conform to the anatomical shape of the ankle.

[0075] The far infrared functional layer base material in this embodiment is prepared by the following method:

[0076] (1) The base material of the modified far-infrared functional powder is placed in a vacuum drying oven and treated at a vacuum degree of -0.08 MPa and 155° C. for 45 minutes. The base material of the modified far-infrared functional powder consists of the following components:

[0077] 55wt% tourmaline (particle size 200nm)

[0078] 25wt% zircon (ZrSiO4, particle size 150nm)

[0079] 20wt% wollastonite (Ca2SiO4, particle size 180nm)

[0080] Surface activation treatment was performed by argon plasma with a power of 110 W and a time of 100 seconds;

[0081] Tourmaline is a complex borosilicate mineral with excellent far-infrared emission and negative ion release capabilities; zircon has excellent thermal and chemical stability; and wollastonite contains calcium, which is beneficial to the human body and also has excellent far-infrared emission properties. The combination of these three mineral powders provides a broader spectrum of far-infrared wavelength coverage than a single mineral alone, meeting the needs of different individuals.

[0082] (2) The activated modified far-infrared functional powder base material and the silane coupling agent (KH-550) were mixed in a high-speed mixer at 85° C. for 13 minutes, with the coupling agent added in an amount of 2.5% of the powder weight;

[0083] The silane coupling agent used in this embodiment is KH-550 (γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane), which is different from the KH-570 used in Example 1. KH-550 is more suitable for combining with the mineral powder used in this embodiment and can form a stronger interface bond.

[0084] (3) The base material of the modified far-infrared functional powder and the polymer particles are put into a banbury mixer at a mass ratio of 1:0.9. The polymer particles are:

[0085] 70wt% thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU, Shore hardness 85A)

[0086] 30wt% ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA, VA content 28%)

[0087] The mixture was mixed at 165° C. for 18 minutes with a rotor speed of 35 rpm. After discharge, the mixture was passed through a double-roll mill for three times to obtain a far-infrared functional layer base material.

[0088] The Shore hardness of the TPU used in this embodiment is 85A, which is lower than the 90A in Example 1, which makes the final product have better flexibility and comfort; the VA content in the EVA is 28%, which is higher than the 26% in Example 1, which further enhances the flexibility and elasticity of the material.

[0089] In step (b), a three-layer structure is simultaneously formed using a co-molding process: a bottom layer of a breathable mesh polymer layer; a middle layer of a composite layer containing modified far-infrared functional powder; and a surface layer of a skin-friendly fabric layer. Unlike Example 1, the skin-friendly fabric in this example is made of natural bamboo fiber, which has natural antibacterial properties and improved moisture wicking properties.

[0090] The far-infrared functional layer is fixed to the inner side of the shoe upper using a hot melt adhesive bonding process at a bonding temperature of 85°C and a pressure of 0.25 MPa. The hot melt adhesive used in this example is EVA hot melt adhesive, which has a melting point of 80-85°C, lower than the TPU hot melt adhesive used in Example 1. This allows the bonding process to be performed at a lower temperature, reducing thermal damage to the material.

[0091] Comparative Example 1

[0092] Comparative Example 1 (Comparison of Material Modification Process)

[0093] A foot and ankle rehabilitation correction shoe includes an upper, a sole and an ankle stabilization structure. The inner ankle contact area of ​​the upper is embedded with a far-infrared functional layer, which is located over the inner ankle, outer ankle and Achilles tendon of the human body.

[0094] The difference from Example 1 is that the powder plasma activation and coupling agent modification steps are omitted.

[0095] The far infrared functional layer is prepared by the following steps:

[0096] (a) melting the far-infrared functional layer base material and injecting it into a mold, and then performing compression molding at 150°C;

[0097] (b) cooling and demoulding, and then cutting into sheets adapted to the anatomical shape of the ankle;

[0098] The far infrared functional layer base material is prepared by the following method:

[0099] (1) The base material of the modified far-infrared functional powder is placed in a vacuum drying oven and treated at a vacuum degree of -0.09 MPa and 165° C. for 50 minutes. The base material of the modified far-infrared functional powder consists of the following components:

[0100] 60wt% tourmaline (particle size 300nm), chemical formula: NaFe3Al(BO)SiO(OH)

[0101] 25wt% titanium dioxide (TiO2, anatase type, particle size 100nm)

[0102] 15wt% zinc oxide (ZnO, particle size 200nm)

[0103] (without plasma activation treatment);

[0104] (2) Directly skip the coupling agent modification step;

[0105] (3) Unmodified far-infrared functional powder and polymer particles are put into a mixer at a mass ratio of 1:1, and the polymer particles are:

[0106] 75wt% thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU, Shore hardness 90A)

[0107] 25wt% ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA, VA content 26%)

[0108] The internal mixing process of step (3) adopts segmented mixing:

[0109] Stage 1 (0-5 minutes): Add TPU, EVA and 1 / 3 ceramic powder, temperature 162°C;

[0110] The second stage (5-15 minutes): add the remaining modified far-infrared functional powder, temperature 172 ° C;

[0111] The third stage (15-25 minutes): adding 1% zinc stearate based on the total weight of the modified far-infrared functional powder, the temperature is 178°C;

[0112] The sheet base material obtained in step (3) is subjected to hot pressing and shaping treatment: hot pressing is performed in a flat vulcanizing machine at 170° C. and a pressure of 12 MPa for 6 minutes, and then quenched to room temperature with cold water.

[0113] Comparative Example 2 (Comparison of Mixing Process)

[0114] A foot and ankle rehabilitation correction shoe, having the same structure as that of Example 1.

[0115] The difference from Example 1 is that the segmented mixing is cancelled and the material is fed in at one time.

[0116] The far infrared functional layer base material is prepared by the following method:

[0117] (1) Same as step (1) of Example 1 (including plasma activation);

[0118] (2) Same as step (2) of Example 1 (including coupling agent modification);

[0119] (3) The modified far-infrared functional powder, polymer particles and zinc stearate are put into an internal mixer at one time and mixed in a mass ratio of 1:1 (ceramic powder: polymer). The polymer particles are:

[0120] 75wt% TPU (Shore hardness 90A)

[0121] 25wt% EVA (VA content 26%)

[0122] The addition amount of zinc stearate is 1% of the total weight of the powder;

[0123] Mix at a constant temperature of 170°C for 20 minutes (rotor speed 40 rpm);

[0124] Cancel the temperature gradient control of segmented mixing;

[0125] The sheet base material obtained in step (3) is subjected to hot pressing and shaping treatment: the same as in Example 1 (170°C / 12 MPa / 6 minutes + cold water quenching).

[0126] Comparative Example 3 (Comparison of Functional Layer Structure)

[0127] A foot and ankle rehabilitation correction shoe, having the same structure as that of Example 1.

[0128] The difference from Example 1 is that the three-layer co-molded structure is cancelled and a single functional layer is adopted.

[0129] The far infrared functional layer is prepared by the following steps:

[0130] (a) The far-infrared functional layer base material (prepared in the same manner as in Example 1) was injected into a mold and compression molded at 150° C. (the co-molding process was not used, and the single-layer structure was directly molded).

[0131] (b) cooling and demoulding, and then cutting into sheets adapted to the anatomical shape of the ankle;

[0132] The thickness of the single functional layer is 2.8 mm (close to the total thickness of the three layers of 3.3 mm in Example 1).

[0133] Comparative Example 4 (Conventional Far Infrared Fiber Solution)

[0134] A foot and ankle rehabilitation treatment corrective shoe comprises an upper, a sole and an ankle stabilizing structure.

[0135] Differences from Example 1:

[0136] The composite functional layer is removed and commercially available far-infrared fiber fabric is used instead;

[0137] Functional layer structure: single-layer far-infrared fiber woven layer (no three-layer composite design).

[0138] The far infrared functional layer is prepared by the following steps:

[0139] (a) Cutting commercially available far-infrared fiber fabric (bamboo charcoal fiber-based far-infrared fabric, weight 280g / m 2 ) is a sheet adapted to the anatomical shape of the ankle;

[0140] (b) Directly laminating by hot melt adhesive (process is the same as in Example 1).

[0141] Comparative Example 5 (conventional corrective shoes)

[0142] A conventional foot and ankle rehabilitation and correction shoe comprises an upper, a sole and an ankle stabilizing structure.

[0143] Differences from Example 1:

[0144] Completely eliminate the far-infrared functional layer;

[0145] There is only a normal sponge cushioning layer (3mm thick) on the inside of the upper.

[0146] Table 1 shows the material test results and method standards.

[0147] Table 1

[0148]

[0149] Table 2 shows the statistical clinical effects of Example 2, Comparative Examples 1-5, and Example 1. Due to individual differences, the results are somewhat subjective.

[0150] Table 2

[0151]

[0152] Compared with Example 1, in Comparative Example 1, due to the omission of plasma activation and coupling agent modification, the powder agglomerates, resulting in a 65% decrease in interface bonding strength, and the radiation attenuation after bending is aggravated, and the final thermal radiation flux is only 265W / m2 , the clinical recovery rate decayed to 63.5%; in Comparative Example 2, the one-time mixing destroyed the powder dispersion gradient, the constant temperature process caused local overheating, the uneven powder coating reduced the thermal radiation flux, and the micro-cracks on the interface after bending caused the decay rate to 27.1%, and the recovery rate was limited to 68.7%. In Comparative Example 3, the single-layer structure lost the moisture permeability-functionality-skin-friendly synergistic mechanism, and the moisture permeability dropped sharply to 185g / m 2 ·h, the accumulation of moisture and heat increases the thermal resistance. Although the emissivity remains at 0.89, the actual thermal radiation flux is low, and the deterioration of the skin microenvironment leads to a low recovery rate. Comparative Example 4 uses conventional far-infrared fibers. Due to the zirconium carbide embedding and fabric shielding effect, the effective radiation area decreases, the emissivity is lower than that of Example 1, the fiber breaks after bending, resulting in a large attenuation rate, and the insufficient moisture permeability further weakens the thermal management efficiency, resulting in a low recovery rate. Comparative Example 5 has no far-infrared functional layer, which returns the thermal radiation flux to zero, and the thermal resistance is as high as 0.062m 2 K / W hinders heat conduction, and relying solely on mechanical support causes the recovery rate to stagnate at 36.8%, close to the natural recovery rate.

[0153] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A foot and ankle rehabilitation orthotic shoe, comprising an upper, a sole and an ankle stabilizing structure, characterized in that: The inner ankle contact area of ​​the shoe upper is embedded with a far-infrared functional layer, which covers the inner ankle, outer ankle and Achilles tendon areas of the human body.

2. The foot and ankle rehabilitation orthotic shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that: The far-infrared functional layer is composed of a polymer matrix and a composite modified far-infrared functional powder, and the mass ratio of the polymer matrix to the modified far-infrared functional powder is 0.8-1.2:

1.

3. The foot and ankle rehabilitation orthotic shoe according to claim 2, characterized in that: The base material of the modified far-infrared functional powder comprises 50-70 wt% of tourmaline, and the rest is inorganic auxiliary powder.

4. The foot and ankle rehabilitation orthotic shoe according to claim 3, characterized in that: The inorganic auxiliary powder is one or more combinations of nano titanium dioxide, nano zinc oxide, nano zirconium dioxide, and wollastonite powder.

5. The foot and ankle rehabilitation orthotic shoe according to claim 3, characterized in that: The preparation method of the modified far-infrared functional powder comprises: placing a base material of the modified far-infrared functional powder in a vacuum drying oven, treating it at a vacuum degree of -0.08 to -0.1 MPa and 150-180° C. for 40-60 minutes, performing an argon plasma surface activation treatment at a power of 100-150 W for 90-120 seconds, and then mixing it with a silane coupling agent in a high-speed mixer at 80-100° C. for 10-15 minutes, wherein the coupling agent is added in an amount of 1.5-3% of the weight of the powder, to obtain the modified far-infrared functional powder.

6. The foot and ankle rehabilitation orthotic shoe according to claim 2, wherein: The polymer matrix comprises 70-80 wt% of thermoplastic polyurethane and 20-30 wt% of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.

7. The foot and ankle rehabilitation orthotic shoe according to claim 1, wherein: The far-infrared functional layer is fixed to the inner side of the shoe upper through a hot-melt adhesive bonding process.

8. The foot and ankle rehabilitation orthotic shoe according to claim 2, wherein: The far infrared functional layer is prepared by the following steps: (a) melting the far-infrared functional layer base material and injecting it into a mold, and then performing compression molding at 120-180° C.; (b) After cooling and demoulding, the sheet is cut into sheets that fit the anatomical shape of the ankle.

9. The foot and ankle rehabilitation orthotic shoe according to claim 8, characterized in that: The far-infrared functional layer base material is prepared by the following method: modified far-infrared functional powder and polymer particles are put into a banbury mixer according to a mass ratio, and the mixture is banburyed at 160-180° C. for 15-25 minutes. After the mixture is discharged, it is thinned through a double-roll mill 3-5 times to obtain the far-infrared functional layer base material.

10. The foot and ankle rehabilitation orthotic shoe according to claim 8, characterized in that: In step (b), a three-layer structure is formed simultaneously by a co-molding process: the bottom layer is a breathable mesh polymer layer; the middle layer is a composite layer containing modified far-infrared functional powder; and the surface layer is a skin-friendly fabric layer.

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